The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-12-27
THE JOY OF SACRIFICE.
a Pleasant Story Of @ Little Blue
Watch.

While setting IN order some Of my
personal belongings just now, | had
something like feeling of pain in my
heart as | laid aside my dear blue
watch! True, | shall wear much
finer one now, lady's watch, in fact;
but can not prevent tear or two
while covering with wadding the one
which marked the hours of my life al
ready so long fled.
1t was ten years ago-how long ago
that isl was eight years old when
my dear little father gave it to me. l
still see him taking 1t carefully from
the box in which he had hid it, then
laying it gently in the hollow of my
hand. almost let it fall in my haste
to throw my arms around his dear
neck, to kiss him and to thank him.
1t is peculiar watch. To begin
with, 1t is a watch with history, as it
is old. have always greatly wished
to know who first owned my watch.
It was somebody, surely, who liked it
very much, because there Is not a
scratch on the enamel-this beautiful
enamel. with its soft reflections and
which is smooth and even TO the touch.
And besides, thickish sort of watch.
a little plump, in fact, has, L find,
something pleasanter for the eye than
a fat watch: and this one has such
pretty, golden hands, which move fast
and mark the hour on figures of the
simplest form-no Roman numerals,
which | should not have understood,
but Just such and 10 as make in
my sums.
It is true that the watch has already
marked q great many hours for me,
this dear watch! have never parted
with it. and have always looked at it
when / hoped for good fortune or
pleasure.
On half-holidays, however, it should
be said the watch went very slowly,
but at last the moment came, and when
said to it, Hurry up and mark the
hour; hurry up, nOw!' it seemed TO
me to quicken its pace.
They say that there are sad hours,
but nearly ell that my little watch has
travelled over for me have been pleas
ant ones; it has been my companion
when | worked, and il was the watch
that at last brought mamma to me on
those days when my heart ached so to
see heri
Yes, this watch has marked all my
happiness until this moment. When
we set out TO travel in vacation time,
it was still my companion on all the
Journey. Sometimes l have believed
that it brought TO me weariSome and
sad hours, but clearly see now that /
deceived myself! Lately it has marked
the hour of my betrothal. Yes, truly,
am very happy. l love him with all
my heart, but | must 60 away from
them, my dear father and mother and
it viii come. the hour of my first part
ing-and the hours that my new watch
will bring to me, will they be as happy
as those that are fed?
Still, adieu, dear little watch; but be
easy. we shall never be separated. ]
put thee away to sleep, waiting for
All! dare not write it, or
hardly to say, perhaps, that some day
shall have little girl of my own!
All! poor blue watch. / found it
again yesterday. l had not forgotten
it, and yet had not thought of it in a
long time. The unhappy hours are
come, and it is not thou that brought
them to me. 1t has seemed very
strange TO me to take in my hand
again this true little comrade of my
childhood, the one that loved rs well
as one loves a chosen friend.
My little girl, who has been standing
on tptoe, watching my movements,
suddenly cries out:
ooh, what a pretty watch! Let me
see it, beg of your
And her eyes sparkle with desire.
l have seated myself, have taken
my watch and | have held it before her
eyes.
Look, it was my watch when I was
little"
s'Let me take it. dear mamma